A driver was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Monday morning in Biddeford, Maine, after allegedly attempting to drive his vehicle into the agents. The identity of the deceased has not yet been publicly released.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at an intersection where agents in unmarked vehicles converged on the driver’s car. Lucas Scott, 18, who was driving through the intersection moments before the shooting, told reporters that he saw ICE agents confronting the driver. Scott stated that the driver then put the car in motion and appeared to accelerate toward an ICE officer, prompting the agent to fire approximately four shots.
Biddeford Police have classified the event as a police incident but confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public. State Police and the Department of Public Safety are on scene to investigate the shooting, and the FBI is also expected to be involved, according to Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau.
"A person was killed. ICE was involved," Fecteau said in a statement. "State Police and the Department of Public Safety are now on scene to gather details and would expect the FBI to investigate as well."
Mary Hayes, a resident near the scene, described seeing the victim lying in the street after the incident, expressing surprise at such an event occurring in Maine. "We live in Maine. We don’t expect this to happen here. What have we come to?" she told the Press Herald.
Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree stated she is "deeply disturbed and angry" by the news. The shooting occurs shortly after an ICE agent fatally shot a Mexican immigrant during a traffic stop in Houston, an event that led to significant protests. Earlier this year, two individuals, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, were fatally shot in Minnesota during incidents involving anti-ICE protesters.